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Combine all ingredients in the bowl of an electric mixer and, using the regular
paddle attachment, beat at low speed until combined. Then, continue mixing
for about 4 minutes.

Grease an 8x4-inch loaf pan and spread dough into it. Cover with a piece of
plastic wrap and let the dough rise until it reaches the top of the pan, about
1 1/2 hours.

Preheat the oven to 375F.

Bake for 35 minutes, until well browned and, hollow-sounding when tapped.
Turn out of pan and cool almost completely on a wire rack before slicing into
thick slices with a serrated knife.

Makes one loaf.

If you have a strong mixer it will be somewhat like kneaded dough, but still
nearly pourable. I have one of those over the stove microwaves with a light
that shines down on the stovetop. If I turn on the light the inside of the
microwave warms up perfectly for getting bread to rise.

In small bowl, proof the yeast in the lukewarm water. Add to the oat mixture, and stir in the flour 1 cup at a time and beat well.

Turn out onto a floured surface and knead until smooth and elastic (about ten minutes). Place in a greased bowl, turning to grease top. Cover; let rise in a warm place, free from draft, until doubled in bulk, about 1 1/4 hours.

Grease 2 (8 1/2 by 4 1/2-inch) loaf pans.

Punch dough down and divide in half. Shape each half into a loaf and place in prepared loaf pan. Cover; let rise in a warm place, free from draft, until doubled in bulk, about 45 minutes.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Bake for 40 to 50 minutes. Remove from pans immediately and cool on wire racks.

Wow, We've gone from knock-down drag-out fights to sharing bread recipies. We should be able to learn a lot from each other on this forum, so it should be pretty cool. Her's a good hearty bread that raises in about 15 minutes and no pre-heat needed for oven.

Sprinkle corn meal on cookie sheet and set aside
mix whole wheat flour, yeast, 2 cups white flour,salt, and sugar in large mixing bowl
add 2 cups of warm water with honey stirred in if you're using it instead of sugar
stir with wooden spoon
gradually add more flour slowly until dough can be handled easily (it may not take 3 cups)
Knead for 5 or 6 minutes
put some olive oil in a bowl and coat the dough by turning in bowl
cover and let set for 15 min in a warm place
punch down, cut in half and form two loaves
place loaves on previously coated cookie sheet
place pan in oven
set oven for 400 degrees and bake for 50 minutes
bread rises as oven warms up

you can add anything you'd like to the bread. I often add a blend of herbs

I guess I really get into bread making - I used to use the bread hook on a kitchen aid mixer, now I knead by hand. I get much better control over texture. And it is also therapeutic to slap dough around, especially during this election year.

Here's a French bread. Classic French or Vienna bread only uses four ingredients (or a fifth in this case, to assist yeast in rising more rapidly). My last child remaining at home - my daughter - loves spaghetti, so I usually make some French bread when I make her favorite dinner. It makes a good "plate mopper".

French Bread

2 packages dry yeast

2-1/2 cups warm water

1 tsp. sugar

6 cups all purpose flour

1-1/2 tsp. salt

Make sure water temperature is 110 to 115 degrees F. Place water in a large bowl and sprinkle with yeast and sugar to proof. Let stand for 5 minutes until yeast dissolves and starts to bubble. Stir in 2 cups flour and salt. Cover and let rise for 1/2 hour.

Then gradually stir in enough of the remaining flour to make a soft dough. Turn the dough out onto a floured surface and knead for 10 minutes. (Knead by pressing on the dough, then folding over and pressing with the heel of your hand.) Then clean the large mixing bowl, grease it (I use cooking spray), and place the dough in the bowl. Turn it in the bowl so the dough is greased (this prevents the top from cracking as it rises).

Cover the dough and let rise at room temperature for about 2-1/2 hours, until doubled in bulk. With your fist, punch down the dough. Divide in half and place one half on a lightly floured surface.

Using a rolling pin or pressing with your hands, to a 12x6" rectangle. Starting with the 12" side, roll up tightly. Seal seams and edges by pinching - important to seal edges, otherwise the loaf might turn out misshapen. Repeat with remaining dough.
Grease (again, cooking spray) a cookie sheet and sprinkle with cornmeal. Place loaves on prepared sheet. Cover and let rise at room temperature until doubled, about 1 hour.

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Spray the loaves with a bit of water, then using a blade, made a few slashes across the top of each loaf. Bake at 425 degrees F for 25-30 minutes until loaves are golden brown (I also throw a small glass of water on a hot pizza stone on the bottom of my oven to get a blast of steam). Remove from cookie sheet and let cool on wire rack.

I am an absolute cheater when it comes to bread.
I use a Panasonic bread machine, easy, good stuff,
and cheap as dirt.

To save a bundle get your yeast at Sam's Club or
Costco. 2 each 1# bricks cost like $5 and they
keep in the freezer for years, literally. Compare
that to a 4 ounce jar for the same $5.

I bought my wife one of the Panasonic units and she used to "bake" using the machine. Put it to good use, too. But after I had to replace the paddle mixing thingy for the third time, it finally gave up, and being too cheap to buy a new unit, I went to "real" bread making. I'm making some bread as I am writing this, make 3-4 loaves per week, and really enjoy the hands-on approach. It does take some doing, as bread can turn out like a rock if you don't allow it to rise properly, or if your yeast isn't up to par. I had some bread machine stuff at a friend's the other day, and although it was bread, it wasn't the same - too fine textured, and the crust wasn't flavorful. Spoiled, I am.

You are right on the yeast prices. I get my yeast, oils, flours and sugar, etc. down the road at a "secret" Amish store which isn't open to the general public - sort of a community store, but I am accepted in their community, I guess. One pound of Saf Instant Yeast costs $2.25, and I keep it in a jar in the freezer. Never goes bad.

MM...... no argument on bread machine bread being
lower quality than hand kneaded. Not even close.

But it beats the living heck out of store bought $3.00
a loaf crud.

As to the Panasonic.......... I am amazed you had a problem.
Mines been going strong for over 5 years and I got it off
ebay for $20. I liked it so much I bought 2 more and gave
them to my kids (again off ebay for $20 to $35). No
problems with their machines either. You adding stones
or gravel for fiber???

Fluffy loaves - perfect for kid's sandwiches

Another recipe - I tried it for the first time (with my changes) yesterday - turned out very well. From allrecipes.com. These loaves are great for children who don't like crusty breads, and like softer, fluffier breads for sandwiches.

Amish White Bread(I laughed at this, because I have never seen an Amish loaf of bread made using only white flour - in this area at least, it is whole wheat or a combination).

2 cups warm water (110 degrees F/45 degrees C) I moved temp up to 115° because I used honey instead of sugar, and wanted to maintain a higher yeast proofing temperature.

2/3 cup white sugar (I used 2/3 cup honey instead).

1 1/2 tablespoons active dry yeast (a smidge more helps in the rise)

1 1/2 teaspoons salt (I dropped it down to more like 1 1/4).

1/4 cup vegetable oil

6 cups bread flour (Incorporated the last cup, actually a bit less, in the kneading stage - depends on your climate conditions. Instead of just a bland white bread, for flavor I substituted 1/2 cup of stone ground wheat, and Prairie Gold flour for 1 1/2 of the cups of white bread flour. Prairie Gold is a premium hard white spring wheat from Montana with a high (16%) protein level, producing nutritious breads light in color and texture).

In a large bowl, dissolve the sugar in warm water, and then stir in yeast. Allow to proof until yeast resembles a creamy foam. (Important step - you want the yeast to be really active for these loaves, to make them rise with good CO2 pockets).

Mix salt and oil into the yeast. Mix in flour one cup at a time. Knead dough on a lightly floured surface until smooth. (I didn't knead more than 4-5 minutes, incorporating the last cup or so into the dough. The dough still was a tad sticky, and sort of ropey, not shiny and smooth. I wanted the loves to be fluffy, so I didn't overwork the dough). Place in a well oiled bowl, and turn dough to coat. Cover with a damp cloth. Allow to rise until doubled in bulk, about 1 hour. (In the winter, with a cold house, I turn on the oven for a few minutes to get the temp around 125°, and then place the covered bowl into the oven to rise. It'll take more like 1 1/2 hours to rise in the winter).

Punch dough down. Knead for a few minutes, and divide in half. Shape into loaves, and place into two well oiled 9x5 inch loaf pans. Allow to rise for 30 minutes, (in the warm oven again) or until dough has risen 1 inch above pans.

Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 30 minutes. (Use a probe thermometer to check temperature, and take loaves out around 180-185°).

My folks tried their hand in grinding grains. They had one of those big vitamix juicers. Anyway they had an attachment to grind grain. There was a big difference in taste I thought. I know they triedthier own corn but dont think they grew oats, just bought @ a health food store.
Note they also had a meat grinder but it didnt work too well for deer processing.

Grease a 12 inch well seasoned cast iron skillet.
Set oven to 475 turn on oven.
Put skillet into oven.
In a large mixing bowl combine all other ingredients
Add milk and mix till batter is pan cake like (keep eye on skillet)
When oven reaches 475 take out skillet...OUCH... watch it that skillet is HOT.
Pour batter into hot skillet.
Return skillet to oven.
Bake 25 to 35 minutes or until crust is golden and batter pulls away from sides of skillet.
Remove skillet and quickly turn out onto a clean cotton towel spread on cutting board.

Serve with hot vegetable soup, red beans & rice, a hopping John,
homemade chili or just with a big chunk-o-butter. Great winter time fare.